Thanksgiving Wine Guide (Updated)

I haven’t written a “what to pair with Thanksgiving dinner” post since my first one back in 2009. Every year since I have written Thanksgiving related posts, but none discussing what wine to pair with the meal. This is because I am a traditionalist when it comes to this meal, and my advice remains the same. The most important piece of advice, don’t stress about it!

But this year I’ve been receiving several questions from friends and blog readers on the subject, so I thought I’d pull it out of the archives and refresh it a bit.

So here you go….

Smoked-Thanksgiving-Turkey

Thanksgiving Wine Pairing & Buying Guide

Originally published on November 10, 2009. Updated on Nov 25^th, 2013.

Right around this time of year many people begin to stress about what wines to pair with Thanksgiving dinner. If you’re one of those people, you’re not alone. It can be daunting when thinking about what to pair with all of the many dishes that go into this celebratory meal. Why is this?

When it comes to your standard traditional Thanksgiving dinner you have a lot going on (spice, richness, fruit, salty, sweet, savory) and you’re typically not eating each dish in individual courses, but instead loading it all up on one plate, so it is not necessary to bother finding a wine for each individual dish. It’s a smorgasbord of flavors.

smoking the bird

We smoke our bird every year, giving it the most amazing flavors.

But then, what about the turkey? Again, there’s no need to burden yourself with the question “what wine should you pair with the bird?” My answer to that is to not worry about the turkey, for it’s not the star of the meal (and contains somewhat neutral flavors compared to all the side dishes). Think about Thanksgiving as an ensemble performance with an all-star eclectic cast. Focus more on the flavors that dominate the entire meal (cranberries, gravy, sweet potatoes, stuffing) and finding wines to simply help balance out those flavors?

Thanksgiving wines

I was asked to speak at an event a few years ago on pairing wines with holiday food, and preparing for it allowed me to sit down and really think about ways to keep things simple, straightforward, and stress free. The event was also one focusing on women and was located near the heart of the Willamette Valley wine country so one of my goals was to keep the discussion to both local and value driven options for the upcoming holidays. Plus, since the audience was comprised of all women, I wanted to highlight some women winemaker options as well. Gotta spread the girl power, right?!

So for Thanksgiving I offer a few standard recommendations to have at your dinner. They are by no means your only options, but intended as solid and carefree recommendations that should pair nicely with your dinner without taking away from the multitude of flavors of the day. When at all possible I like to keep it local (or at least domestic) for this American holiday. But if that is not easy for you I offer some widely available alternatives as well.

Thanksgiving Wine Pairing Guide

Wines that would compliment the wide range of flavors of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

PBR-with-Thanksgiving

If you ask my husband, he’ll tell you an iced cold PBR goes with everything. It’s a good thing he’s not writing this post.

Sparkling Wine

I always begin any dinner or event (whether Thanksgiving, a holiday party, or brunch) with sparkling wine. It is festive and goes with everything, especially appetizers and salty foods, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money on it. Some of my favorite go-to bubbles are between $10 – $20.

For great values seek out Cava from Spain, or if you want domestic, Gruet Blanc de Noirs is one of my favorites at around $14, or splurge with Argyle Brut Rosé priced at around $45.

Riesling

Can be dry or sweet, spicy, fruity, and fragrant. Think comfort flavors (honey, apple pie, baking spices/nutmeg/cinnamon) and look for a dry to semi-sweet Riesling. If you are buying a German Riesling look for a Kabinett or Spätlese (because these are drier options). It is a great wine for folks who are new to wine and would be fun to offer. It will pair well with the sweetness of the potatoes, richness of gravy, and has enough acidity to stand up to stuffing, turkey, etc.
Great Rieslings can be found domestically in Oregon and Washington as well as the Finger Lakes region of New York.

Gewürztraminer

Another white wine that may present itself dry or sweet, depending on the style. Look for dry to semi-sweet. These wines are aromatic, floral, and spicy with a zestiness that allows it to pair nicely with side dishes that may have a bit more kick to them. May also be a good dessert option (mmmm pumpkin pie).

Rosé

Rosé is known for being a summer wine, but I enjoy dry rosé year round. Light, refreshing, and fruity most rosé’s are amazingly food friendly and will pair well with almost everything you are likely to have on your table this Thanksgiving.

Pinot Noir

A traditional favorite for Thanksgiving and if you’re in Oregon, like me, then there is no shortage of great Pinot Noir around here. Pinot Noir is a solid option because they typically have bright fruit (think cherries, cranberries, raspberries) and earth (think mushrooms) so they are perfect for the fruity, earthy, and spicy foods of Thanksgiving. This wine will compliment, without overpowering, almost all of the flavors of the day. Gotta go Oregon for this! I recently purchased a couple bottles of Seven of Hearts Bjornson Vineyards Pinot Noir to open this week, but if you can’t find that, seek out Pinots from Stoller Family Estate or Soter Vineyards (their “North Valley” Pinot is a great value!). They are two of my favorite local Pinot producers that you should be able to find fairly easily if you live outside the state.

Zinfandel

A red wine that is bigger and bolder than Pinot Noir, but still maintains a balancing effect on many traditional dishes. Zinfandels can be rich, but not very tannic, with great fruit and spice characteristics and still compliment richer flavors of the day (like sweet potatoes, gravy, and roasted vegetables). This would be a great option for your guests who may be looking for a heartier wine with deeper flavors.

Seghesio Family Vineyards Sonoma Valley Zinfandel is always a favorite around here, and what I’m planning to open this Thursday to go with our smoked bird!

Dessert Wines

Look for Ports, Cream Sherries, Rieslings, and even more Sparkling Wine.

For a local shopping guide, see the original list from 2009.

IMPORTANT TIPS

Have at least three wine options: sparkling, a white, and a red. Don’t worry about having too much. There are plenty of things to do with leftover wine (should you have any), like making this mulled red wine!
Magnums are great for larger crowds (6-10 people).
Sparkling wine goes with everything (it’s true).
Don’t stress about finding the perfect wine for every dish. There’s no such thing… well, except for sparkling
You don’t need to spend a lot of money on Thanksgiving wine. The flavors of the food and the company of your family and friends are the focus of this day.
Most importantly, have a fantastic time enjoying good food, good wine, family and friends….